1 God Is Awesome TheAn urgent message the prophet is under compulsion to proclaim.oracle (a burdensome message—a pronouncement from God) concerningUnder the preaching of Jonah, the king of Nineveh and all its people repented (Jon 3:5). But when Nahum came to Nineveh a hundred and fifty years later, everything had changed and the people had become hopelessly wicked. God’s wrath was not to be turned away this time.Nineveh [the capital city of Assyria]. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh [which he saw in spirit and prophesied].
2 The Lis a jealous and avenging God [protecting and demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His];The Lavenges and He is full of wrath.The Ltakes vengeance on His adversaries,And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
3 The Lis slow to anger and great in powerAnd He will by no means leavethe guiltyunpunished.The Lhas His way in the whirlwind and in the storm,And the clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;He dries up all the rivers [illustrating His judgment].Bashan [on the east] and [Mount] Carmel [on the west] wither,And [in the north] the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake before HimAnd the hills melt away;Indeed the earth is shaken by His presence—Yes, the world and all that dwell in it.
6 Who can stand before His indignation [His great wrath]?And who can stand upandendure the fierceness of His anger?His wrath is poured out like fireAnd the rocks are destroyed by Him.
7 The Lis good,A strengthandstronghold in the day of trouble;He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully] those who take refugeandtrust in Him.
8 But with anThe overwhelming flood may be understood as a metaphor describing a conquering army as well as a literal reference to a flood of water. Diodorus of Sicily refers to a legend that Nineveh could never be taken until the river became its enemy. Arbaces the Scythian had besieged the city in vain for two years, but in the third year the Khoser River washed away a considerable section of the very great wall and the invaders pushed through this opening. Nahum 2:6 refers to the devastating flood and 3:13, 15 probably to the destruction of Nineveh by fire. The vivid descriptions of ch 3 are historically accurate.overwhelming flood [of judgment through invading armies]He will make a complete destruction ofThe city of Nineveh was the magnificent capital of the Assyrian Empire. The great palace of Sennacherib was without rival and contained at least seventy or more rooms. The city was home to more than 120,000 residents (at least twice the size of Babylon) and had no less than fifteen gates in the wall surrounding the city. During its glory days it was probably the largest city in the known world. Built near the juncture of the Tigris River and its tributary the Khoser, it was served by an elaborate water system of eighteen canals. Nineveh had many suburbs, three of which are mentioned along with Nineveh in Gen 10:11, 12. Nineveh’s extensive ruins are located near the modern city of Mosul, Iraq.its siteAnd will pursue His enemies into darkness.
9 Whatever [plot] you [Assyrians] devise against the L,He will make a complete end of it;Affliction [of God’s people by the hand of Assyria] will not occur twice.
10 Like tangled thorn branches [gathered for fuel],And like those drowned in drunkenness,Lit They.The people of Nineveh are consumed [through fire]Like stubble completely witheredanddry [in the day of the L’wrath].
11 From you [O Nineveh],One has gone forth who plotted evil against the L,A malevolentThe reference here may be to Sennacherib, who reigned over Assyria from 705-681 b.c. He led an attack on Judah (the Southern Kingdom) in 701 b.c.counselor [the king of Assyria].
12 This is what the Lsays,“Though they are at fullstrengthand many in number,Even so, they will be cut off and pass away.Though I have afflicted youandcaused you grief [O Jerusalem],I will afflict you no longer.
13 Now, I will break his yoke [of taxation] off you,And I will tear off your shackles.”
14 The Lhas given a command concerning you [O king of Nineveh]:“Your name will no longer be perpetuated.I will cut off the carved idols and cast imagesFrom the temple of your gods;I will prepare your grave,For you are vileandunworthy.”
15 Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news [telling of Assyria’s destruction],Who announces peaceandprosperity!Celebrate your feasts, O Judah;Perform your vows.For the wicked one [the king of Assyria] will never again pass through you;He is completely cut off.